October 21, 2011 – Lee Richardson, member of Parliament for Calgary Centre—on behalf of Lynne Yelich, minister of state for Western economic diversification—announced an investment of $150,000 toward WADE Canada to implement the Clean Energy Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) Capacity Building Program.

“The Government of Canada is ensuring Western Canadian technology companies have the tools and resources they need to succeed in the global energy marketplace,” said Richardson. “This initiative will enable small businesses and innovators to seize trade and investment opportunities that will contribute to Canada’s economic success while creating jobs.”

The Clean Energy SME Capacity Building Program is providing 150 companies from across the West with access to resources such as workshops, training and business advisory services geared toward increasing their capacity to attract trade and investment opportunities. Up to 50 of these companies will also be selected to showcase and demonstrate their technologies to potential investors and partners at the Global Clean Energy Congress.

“Commercializing clean energy technology and building the business capacity of small- and medium-sized firms is key to advancing clean and decentralized energy as part of our energy mix,” said Jan Buijk, chair of WADE Canada and CEO of EPS Energy. “The investment from Western Economic Diversification Canada will help to further support these outcomes.”

The small- and medium-sized businesses selected to participate in the Global Clean Energy Congress are expected to benefit from networking opportunities with key players in the clean energy sector, as well as increased promotion to export markets and access to strategic partnerships and product clients.

WADE Canada (World Alliance for Decentralized Energy) is a registered, national, non-profit industry association that supports growth and development of the decentralized energy industry. The Global Clean Energy Congress, which is co-organized by WADE Canada, is a forum to educate, inform, and connect multiple industries to provide solutions in clean technologies. The congress takes place from November 1-3 in Calgary, Alta.

Western Economic Diversification Canada works with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the Western economy, coordinates federal economic activities in the West and advances the interests of western Canadians in national decision making.